SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners fell to Toronto Blue Jays 13-4 in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park.

With the loss, the the Mariners lead in the best-of-seven championship series fell to 2-1.

Luckily for Seattle, it has two more games at home on Thursday and Friday to try and close out the series and make the first World Series in franchise history.

Throughout the Mariners entire season, they've preached not looking past what it's front of them and staying even-keeled in the face of wins and losses.

That mindset has helped Seattle bounce back from disappointing losses. Just recently, the Mariners were able to bounce back after an 8-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers in the Game 4 of the ALDS on Oct. 8 to win 3-2 in 15 innings in Game 5 of the ALDS on Friday.

Seattle will have an opportunity to go back up two games in Game 4 of the ALCS at 5:33 p.m. PT on Thursday. Luis Castillo will start on the hill for the Mariners.

There might not be a pitcher, or a player in the team's clubhouse, that has embodied the Mariners' "look at what's in front of you" mindset better than Castillo.

The ninth-year veteran, who's the most experienced hurler on the starting rotation, has posted a 3.54 ERA with 162 strikeouts in 180.2 innings pitched across 30 starts. He's the only pitcher in the team's rotation who played out the entire year without suffering an injury.

Castillo navigated several up-and-down months of the regular season. In June, he had a 3.97 ERA in six starts. In August, he posted a 6.66 ERA in five starts.

Throughout his struggles, Castillo never strayed away from his trademark steadiness and confidence.

"That's just who he is as a person," Seattle center fielder Julio Rodriguez said in a postgame interview Wednesday. "I feel like I've never seen him mad or sad about things. He's always the same guy. And I feel like that's what he brings onto the field every single time."

The Mariners have already benefited from Castillo's steady presence in the postseason

The three-time All-Star, aptly nicknamed "The Rock," has made two appearances in this year's playoffs — one start and one outing out of the bullpen.

Castillo pitched in Game 2 of the ALDS on Oct. 5. He struck out three, walked four and allowed one hit in four innings pitched. His relief appearance was in Game 5 of the ALDS.

Castillo's start was Seattle's first win of the playoffs. He was the last pitcher on the mound for the Mariners in their walk-off win in the 15-inning Game 5 and earned the win. He fanned one and didn't allow a batter to reach base in 1.1 innings pitched.

Now, Castillo has an opportunity to lead Seattle to a 3-1 advantage in the ALCS — one win away from heights the franchise hasn't reached in its 48-year history.

"It means a lot. Confidence is huge," Castillo said via translator Freddy Llanos in a pregame news conference Wednesday. "We got to come out here and not just give 100% but give 110%. We're at that stage where we have to come in, work and give a little bit more of ourselves than we (normally) have to do. For me, it's the same mentality. Just try to come out here, try to compete, do my same routine, stay the same and go out there and battle and battle against some of these batters. I think the most important thing for me, I've always said it, keep that positive mentality."

Castillo will face Toronto starting pitcher Max Scherzer.

Castillo, and the Mariners also have history working in their favor. Only 15 teams in MLB history have come down from down 2-0 to win a best-of-seven series. Two of instances have happened in the last 20 years: the 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks and the 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers, both in the NLCS.

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